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Tolu Smith powers Mississippi State to OT win over Richmond

Mar 12, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Ben Howland talks in a huddle during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Ben Howland talks in a huddle during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Tolu Smith had 22 points and 11 rebounds as Mississippi State posted an 82-71 win over Richmond in overtime to claim third place in the Bahamas Championship on Saturday in Nassau.

Iverson Molinar added 15 points, D.J. Jeffries had 13 and Garrison Brooks 11 for the Bulldogs (5-1), who outscored Richmond 16-5 in overtime.

Tyler Burton scored 23 points, Jacob Gilyard added 17, Grant Golden had 13 and Dji Bailey 10 to lead the Spiders (3-4).

Cameron Matthews made a layup to start the scoring in overtime and Molinar added a 3-pointer to give MSU a 71-66 lead.

Bailey made a layup with 2:45 left for Richmond’s first points of the period, but Smith and Shakeel Moore each made two free throws to increase the lead to 75-68.

Moore’s 3-pointer produced an 80-71 lead with 1:13 left.

Smith’s layup gave the Bulldogs a 66-58 lead with 2:46 left in the regulation, but they didn’t score again in the period.

Bailey made a layup, Gilyard converted a four-point play and Burton made two free throws with nine seconds left to force overtime.

Jeffries and Smith made consecutive layups as MSU took a 40-31 lead early in the second half.

Consecutive dunks by Jeffries and Brooks enabled the Bulldogs to extend the lead to 46-34.

Burton’s layup pulled Richmond within six points before the Bulldogs rebuilt the lead to 10 as Matthews and Garcia each made a pair of free throws.

Gilyard made a 3-pointer for the Spiders, but Molinar and Smith responded with consecutive baskets for a 58-47 lead midway through the half.

Burton made a layup and Isaiah Wilson added a 3-pointer to pull Richmond with six points.

Mississippi State built the lead to 10 points twice before layups by Burton and Bailey trimmed the lead to 64-58 with 2:57 remaining.

Louisville, which defeated Mississippi State on Thursday, posted a 63-55 win over Maryland in the tournament championship game earlier on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

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